Permits Needed For Downtown Dallas? Suggestions Where To Shoot?

[SkyeDawn]

I have a senior who wants a Downtown Dallas photo shoot, but I've never photographed anything down there before and I didn't know if I would need permits to shoot (due to the terrorist threats and activity in the past few months).

If I do need a permit, what does it cost and where do I go to get it?

Could anyone suggest some good locations for a high-fashion style photo shoot? Or some cool locations that are close to each other?

Thanks so much!

Shannon

[JohnT]

I've never heard of anyone needing a permit to shoot there. If you want to be sure, calling city hall would be a good place to start.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Only permit that your would need would be permission from the property manager of a highrise if you plan to go onto their property (like One Fountain Place) and shoot, you may also need to get building (commercial) releases if an identifiable (non-city owned) building is in the background.

I've seen photographers do High Fashion in the middle of the Street in Deep Ellum with downtown behind them.

What about a high fashion model surrounded by street people? Stop by the outside of the STEWPOT (homeless meals distributed there) any weekday morning and you can get all sorts of them for cheap.

This is not saying that if you had a crew of 5 or so people with enough equipment to fill a 40 ft bobtail and you start setting up that someone may direct you to the City Film Commission Director who may force you to hire 2 city cops for the shoot and pay some other fees but just a normal HF shoot with a couple helpers and a small amount of lighting equipment shouldn't draw any attention as long as you leave public access on the sidewalks.

[JohnT]

Obviously, Paul is correct. I was coming from a general street-shooting perspective, where there would be the subject, the photographer, and one assistant for holding an OCF, shooting in alleys, and on sidewalks and streets.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Like John said that if your just Doing a Senior Shoot with maybe a helper of two then no problem. (I said what I said above because someone will always ask what if I have a family to shoot and I am bringing xxx with me?).

BTW the City Film Commission is bending over backwards right now to bring in big film/movie shoots to town.

I do know that if your doing a "commercial" large shoot at the Arboretum that there are fees involed.

[sandralemin]

Deep Ellum, Westend, around the museums downtown. No permit but just use common sense. I shoot there all the time and always aware of what property I'm on.